A Detailed
Speech Outline

This page explains how to make a detailed outline of a speech.
It should be remembered that depending on the type of speech,
the outline may vary. However, if you base your speeches on this
outline you should be able to make a successful speech.

A presentation outline is a way to organize your material
logically and clearly. You should make an outline before you
start to write a speech. In fact the writing of a speech comes
towards the end of the speech creation process (see '11
Steps to Creating a Speech'). By using a presentation outline,
you can "see" your speech and determine where you need
to add or revise information. It provides the structure for the
introduction, body, and conclusion of your speech. In addition,
it can serve as your speaking script.

This outline consists of Four parts; The
Header, The Introduction,
The Body, and The
Conclusion. Before you start writing your speech you should
make an outline using these 4 headings and their sub headings.

1. Header

Topic

Decide on your topic.

Audience

Analyze your audience. What do they already know about your
topic? Are they interested in the topic?

Refine and limit topic

Based on your analysis of the audience you may need to slightly
change you topic, by either changing the focus, or the
scale of the topic.

Purpose Statement

Write down a clear statement of what it is you intend to achieve.
What is the purpose of your speech.

For example; The purpose of this speech is to inform the
audience how to travel in Japan without spending to much money.

Organizational Method or Pattern

There is no single way to organize
a speech. The pattern you will select will be determined
by the information you have and the specific purpose you want
to achieve. There are six basic patterns for organizing a speech:

Logical or topical

Chronological

Spatial

Classification

Problem-Solution

Cause-effect

Once you have completed these five parts
of the 'Header', you are then ready to start planning the speech
itself.

2. Introduction

Greeting and Attention getter

How will you greet the audience? How will you get the audience's
attention? Think of a sentence that will make the audience sit
up and listen.

Thesis Statement

The 'purpose statement' is where you simply state what your
goal is. However, it is not possible to use this in the speech.
You need to convert it to a 'thesis statement'. A thesis statement
is one sentence in the introduction in which you declare your
purpose and topic.

For example, a thesis statement of the above purpose statement
would be; 'Traveling in Japan need not be an extravagance.'

Credibility

If the audience do not know who you are, you will not only
need to introduce yourself, but you will also need to 'establish
your credibility'. This means you will have to explain to
the audience why you are 'qualified' to speak about the subject.

Outline of main the points - overview

What are your main points?

Why?

Tell your audience why you think your presentation
will be useful to them.

3. The body

Transition

Think of a sentence that will make it clear to the audience
that you have finished the introduction, and are now about to
start the body of the speech.

Main points and ideas

Main ideas

Supporting ideas

Details & Examples

Visuals

Write your main points and ideas
here

What ideas will you tell the audience
to support your main points?

What details or examples do you
have?

Will you have any visuals to help
explain your points?

main ideas = sub-topics

supporting ideas = sub-sub topics

evidence = details and examples

4. The conclusion

Transition

Think of a sentence that will make it clear to the audience
that you have finished the body and are now coming to the end
of the speech.

Restatement of main points

Summarize your main ideas and think of which piece of information
you really want the audience to remember.

Closer

Think of a final sentence to help the audience remember your
speech.

Note that the presentation outline
is not a word-for-word script for the speech but an outline of
ideas to serve as an organizational and presentation tool for
the speaker.

Once you have finished the outline you
are then ready to start writing.

Copy this into a word processor document,
and use the headings to make your own outline for your demonstration
speech.